$1.5 Billion Mobilized to Address Humanitarian and Security Crisis in Africa’s Great Lakes Region

The International Conference in Support of Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes Region concluded in Paris on Thursday, October 30, generating measured hope. Co-organized by Togo and France, it brought together more than 70 delegations which reaffirmed their commitment in the face of the severe humanitarian and security crisis affecting the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighboring countries. Participants welcomed the announcement of a mobilization of over 1.5 billion euros for the most vulnerable populations.

Over 1.5 billion euros were mobilized for vulnerable populations in the Great Lakes region at the International Conference in Support of Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes Region, which concluded in Paris on Thursday, October 30, marking a significant international commitment. The Togolese minister described the crisis as a human, regional, and moral tragedy, emphasizing the need for concrete action. The diplomatic stakes are considerable, and the lasting stabilization of the region requires a convergence of humanitarian action, peace diplomacy, and economic recovery.

“The suffering of its populations is unbearable, and we must question our common humanity and ask ourselves, how can we bear the duty of women, children, and the elderly with bundles on their heads wandering in their own country or in territories they do not know.”

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of making the voices from the field heard and addressing the significant humanitarian funding gap, given that the UN response plan is only 16% funded.

“This international conference was an opportunity to accelerate discussions on this subject, which will continue within the framework of the Qatari mediation with a new impetus given here from Paris. As we now do every time we mobilize the international community, we will carefully monitor the disbursements and commitments made.”

While ethnic tensions and cross-border violence persist between the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, the Great Lakes region remains a top international priority. It faces a critical humanitarian situation: over one million people displaced since the beginning of the year, endemic food insecurity affecting nearly 28 million people, mostly women and children, and the frequent resurgence of epidemics.